Spanish Elderly Care Center Wrapped in a Pixelated Green Facade

This new elderly care center near Zamora, Spain rises from the landscape with a gently sloping profile set amid rows of crops. The project sits on a narrow lot, so to make the most of available space CSO Arquitectura wrapped the building and grounds in a playful grid that forms patios and green spaces. Click past the break for a closer look at the project’s pixelated green façade.

A grid of hardscape and greenscape rolls over the center, transitioning from landscape into building and back again. This subtle effect betrays the scale of the building, making it appear much smaller than it really is. The roof is accessible to provide views of the fertile valley.

Projected above the grid surface is a patchwork of solar electric panels that are set to the same angle as the sloping walls, adding an abstract union to the project as a whole. The panels also provide shaded seating for residents as they enjoy the pixelated garden roof and walls.

The interior is centered around a clean, open central vestibule that is directly accessed by private rooms. Large openings provide easy access to the exterior.